Broadcaster of the Year Award Goes to Kristine Johnson

Emmy Award-winning CBS 2 news anchor, Kristine Johnson, was
awarded the 2013 Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award at the Montclair
State University Conference Center on December 11. The Broadcaster of the Year
Award is presented to individuals who have made a significant contribution to
the field of broadcasting.

A veteran newscaster, Johnson worked for WPRI in Providence,
R.I., and NBC and MSNBC in New York before joining CBS 2 in 2006. She currently
co-anchors the 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. news and has anchored news coverage of
major events such as Hurricane Sandy and the blizzard of 2013. She has also
covered events such as the US Airways “Miracle on the Hudson” landing in 2009, breaking
news coverage from ground zero after the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden
and live broadcasts in Newtown, Conn., after the Sandy Hook Elementary School
massacre and in Boston after the Boston Marathon bombings.

The versatile journalist has also guest co-hosted the
daytime talk show The Talk and has
played the role of a news anchor on episodes of the CBS hit prime time shows Person of Interest and Elementary.

After taping an interview at the DuMont Television Center with
Associate Professor Marc Rosenweig for a special edition of the School of
Communication and Media’s weekly show, Carpe Diem, Johnson spoke to, and
took questions from, an audience of students and faculty at the University
Conference Center.

“Find something that you are passionate about,” she advised
the students. “Personally, I love asking questions, I love finding answers, I
love telling stories and most of all, I love making a connection with the
viewer.”

Johnson responded to a wide range of questions about the news
industry, what it is like to be a broadcast journalist and how to best prepare
for entering the profession. Encouraging the students to work hard, set goals
and take advantage of every opportunity, Johnson shared her experiences and insider
knowledge with them.

“Seize opportunities that come your way,” she advised. “But
– this is important – when you notice that other opportunities are passing you
by, don’t be afraid to nudge the person in charge. Remind them that you too are
capable of taking on these bigger assignments.”

Since many of the students in the audience are aiming for a
career in broadcasting, Johnson’s informed advice and answers to questions were
much appreciated. So was her frank assessment of the industry as she helped
prepare them for what is ahead: “It’s a tough business, I’m not going to lie to
you,” she said. “It’s not for the thin-skinned.”

While acknowledging that it is a tough industry, Johnson also
encouraged the students not to become discouraged early on in their careers. “I
started out in a position that frankly, I didn’t love,” she told the students.
“But I worked hard and took advantage of an opportunity that was presented to
me and I always tried to remember, ‘this is not the end, this is the
beginning.’ ”

Established in 1985, the Broadcaster of the Year Award has
honored noted individuals in the field including CBS and YES Network
sportscaster Ian Eagle, WNBC-TV sportscaster Bruce Beck and WABC-TV senior
correspondent NJ Burkett, as well as Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, Inside Edition anchor
Deborah Norville and My9 News anchor Brenda Blackmon. The selection of
candidates is based on recommendations by faculty and staff of the School of
Communication and Media and the DuMont Television Center at Montclair State
University.